November 16, 1998 - Indiana Daily Student (IN)

Speakers Attack War on Drugs

by Dave Evensen, Indiana Daily Student

Saturday, experts on the national drug war attacked current
drug policies and suggested remedies at a public forum called
"The Hidden Casualties of the War on Drugs" at the
Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave.

Between 75 and 100 area residents and IU students attended
the forum, and support for changing current drug policies was
strong. Featured speakers were Mike Gray, author of "Drug
Crazy: How We Got Into This Mess and How We Can Get Out,"
Nora Callahan, executive director of the November Coalition,
and Lusane, who spent several years working in the U.S. House
of Representatives.

Speakers at the forum shed new light on the drug problem,
using statistics to back their claims.

Speaker Dr. Clarence Lusane, professor at American University,
said the mandatory minimum sentence for the possession of five
grams of crack-cocaine is five years. An individual must possess
at least 500 grams of cocaine powder to receive five years in
prison, which means that a user of crack-cocaine is likely to
receive the same sentence as a dealer of cocaine powder. The
problem? Lusane says 88 percent of crack-cocaine users are black.

Robert Miller, former Monroe County prosecutor, also spoke
at the forum.

"I was sworn to protect the law, but sometimes justice
and fairness are lost," Miller said, referring to his days
as prosecuting attorney. "Prohibition does not work, and
the war on drugs is immoral."

When asked why he did not exercise his views while in office,
Miller said he had no power to adjust the drug laws. Drug policy,
he said, is made within the state and national legislatures.

Gray asserted that drug policies are moving in the wrong direction.

"Fifty billion dollars per year goes to the drug war,"
Gray said. "What do we get out of it? More of our kids in
prison."

Callahan blamed the drug problem on lack of a viable employment
alternative in major cities.

"You can't get a job in the inner-cities," Callahan
said. "With NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement),
jobs have gone overseas. And especially with welfare cutbacks,
what are they going to do? It all adds to the drug problem."

Speakers said the United States has become the world's leading
jailer, with nearly 2 million people in prison.

"One out of 54 Americans are in prison or on supervised
release. That number is one out of four for black Americans.
What are we doing?" Callahan said.

Callahan added that she believes most of the violence behind
drugs happens because of prohibition, not the drugs themselves.

"The drug war is nothing more than a war on our own people,"
she said.

Lusane had ideas for new policies on drugs. He said the United
States needs to take a different economic stance on developing
countries -- the same countries where many of the drugs are coming
from. According to Lusane, the United States spends 1 percent
of its budget on foreign aid, a number that he said needs to
grow.

"We need to get rid of the mandatory minimum sentences,"
Lusane added. "We also need to deal with voting rights.
Fourteen states take away voting rights forever after a felony
conviction."

This needs to change, Lusane said, because a growing number
of blacks and other offenders have no voice in elections even
if their drug problem is over.

One community member asked if the legalization of drugs would
stop many of the problems facing communities today.

"We are dealing with a multi-issue problem," Lusane
responded. "Addiction has been a problem, but we're talking
about a medical and economic problem that has been criminalized."

We are careful not to duplicate the efforts of other organizations,
and as a grassroots coalition of prisoners and social reformers,
our resources (time and money) are limited. The vast expertise
and scope of the various drug reform organizations will enable
you to stay informed on the ever-changing, many-faceted aspects
of the movement. Our colleagues in reform also give the latest
drug war news. Please check their websites often.